Berea College Community Strengthening Initiative (BCCSI)
The Berea College Community Strengthening Initiative (BCCSI) is a program meant to encourage Berea College staff to attend at least one on-campus event per month, if possible. For more information, please visit this webpage.
FERPA Training PowerPoint
Want to learn more about FERPA here at Berea College? If so, please login to review a PowerPoint created by the Office of the Registrar for all Berea College employees. Also be sure to check-out the FERPA webpage on the Office of the Registrar’s website: https://www.berea.edu/registrar/ferpa/.
FERPA Quick Guide
Want a brief rundown of FERPA at Berea without looking through the entire PowerPoint, above? If so, click here and login to view the new FERPA Quick Guide document from the Office of the Registrar.
***NEW*** Berea College Calendar
Want information about lectures, events, Convocations, and activities across campus? If so, please visit the Berea College calendar, available here: https://calendar.berea.edu.
Professional Development Request Form
Do you want to request professional development funds from your Vice President for a conference, training, certification, etc.? If so, simply fill out the form at this link:
https://berea.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_byhY7UzY7DXsZ7L
The College’s Administrative Leadership Council (made up of the Administrative Committee, Associate Vice Presidents, and Directors) and Staff Forum leadership indicate that the top five requests for professional development from staff members are:
- Funds to attend or present at conferences and workshops;
- Increased frequency and levels of technology training;
- Certification training;
- Job-specific skills training; and
- Leadership skills development, including tools for running an effective meeting.
Priority allocation for staff development funds is given to 1) strategic professional development of staff to ensure that employees with promotional potential receive training to prepare them for the next step in their career progression at the College; 2) staff with credentials that require continuing education; and 3) staff presenting at a conference; and 4.) Technical skills training for new job related technology.
Instructions for Professional Development Proposals
Proposals should describe the activity, provide a budget, and indicate the amount of funding requested. Obtaining the support of your immediate supervisor is a required part of the application process. Awards are made on a first-come, first-served, basis and are subject to the availability of funds.
Travel Policy
Please note that all who receive funds involving travel must adhere to the Berea College Travel Policy. The updated travel policy can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/y5dsu5yj.
Report on Completion
Staff who receive Staff Development Funding are to submit a report via email within 30 days of the completion of the project via email to a designated staff member within the Division (Staff members in the academic division are not required to complete a report after their project has been completed, but their requests initially are sent to Jim Strand). Those staff members are as follows:
- Alumni, Communications & Philanthropy: Kelly Linville
- Financial Affairs: Scotty Abney
- Information Systems & Services: Yvonne Williams
- Student Life: Carla Roberts
- Operations & Sustainability: Malissa Blair
- President’s Office: Judy Mott
- Strategic Initiatives: Andreea Teban
- Labor: Brittany Ash
Please note that your direct supervisor’s electronic signature is required on this form.
If you experience any technical difficulty with this form, please contact Sam Cole via email at colesa@berea.edu or via phone by calling ext. 3210.
If you are not sure about which Division you are in as a staff member, please consult this handy guide.
Professional Development Initiative Documentation
Vision Paper (PDF) (includes definition of professional development)
Staff Forum Presentation to A.C. in December 2015 (PDF)
Staff Professional Development and Climate Survey Instrument (PDF) (administered in 2015)
On and Off-Campus Professional Development Opportunities
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Events
Check out upcoming events for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion here: https://calendar.berea.edu/events/category/diversity-equity-inclusion/list. For more information, contact Beth Taylor (taylors2@berea.edu).
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The EAP benefit provides up to 6 free counseling sessions for eligible employees and their dependents. These sessions are with certified counselors from The Lexington Group and are completely confidential (they do not inform Berea College of who is using this benefit). Traditionally, employees could get counseling face-to-face or by phone. However, the Lexington Group now offers the option for online counseling (video and messaging). For more information about video counseling and the EAP benefit, please see the documents linked below (you will be asked to provide your Berea College credentials to access them).
TIAA Monthly Webinars
TIAA has monthly webinars covering a variety of topics related to preparing for retirement and they are completely free to Berea College employees. If interested, please sign up by going to TIAA.org/webinars.
Smoking Cessation
Sometimes you start to believe you just might be better off as a non-smoker. If you fit into that category, send Jill Gurtatowski an email (gurtatowskij@berea.edu) to discuss if this is the right program for you.
Weight Watchers
WW is back! Berea College has partnered with WW (Weight Watchers Reimagined) to help employees meet their health and wellness goals. This new offering involves a monthly digital membership (formerly called eTools) for only $9.00/month. This Program is open to all employees. Spouses/partners on a College medical plan are also eligible.
Here is how myWW+ works:
- Take the new personal assessment for a holistic view of what impacts weight loss for you—from food to sleep to how you think.
- You will be scientifically matched with a food plan (Green, Blue, or Purple) that guides you toward food choices geared to your preferences.
- Your WW app will be personalized with trackers, FitPoints®, tips & tricks, recipes, and tools designed to help make losing weight easier.
Take a look at the new program here: https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/blog/weight-loss/myww
To sign up for WW for $9.00/month, visit: https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/wwhs click on see discounted rates, enter Access ID: 15891332
Employees enter your BNumber – please include “B” and leading zeros. Spouses will enter employees’ BNumber with an “S” in front. Ex. SB000111. If you have an active eTools account, cancel your existing account by calling WW Customer Service at 1-866-204-2885. For more information, please email Jill Gurtatowski (gurtatowskij@berea.edu).
Coffee and Cream Chats
Besides a great way to get your morning cup of coffee, Coffee & Cream Chat is a monthly meeting designed for supervisors to be able to hear about the Labor Program’s new initiatives and any updates, as well as ask any questions they may have for the Labor Program team. Topics that will be covered are usually included in the reminder email we send out to all supervisors. Always feel free to come ready with any questions you may have.
Fall 2021 term coffee and cream chats will be held in-person with a virtual option. A meeting link will be sent to you in a reminder email. Dates for this event will be:
- Tuesday, Sept 14th @ 9:15am
- Wednesday, Oct 6th @ 9:15am
- Thursday, Nov. 11th @ 9:15am
- Friday, Dec. 3rd @ 9:15am
For more information, please email Rosanna Napoleon (napoleonr2@berea.edu).
Something to Chew On
Something to Chew On is a monthly event hosted by the Labor Office where a different department from campus has the opportunity to promote their program and give information to the staff and faculty about how their work affects the campus community.
For more information, please email Brittany Ash (brittany_ash@berea.edu).
Green Dot Training
Green Dot is a Bystander Intervention Program designed to help reduce power-based violence, including: sexual violence, domestic abuse, child abuse, stalking, and bullying in our community. Find out more about Green Dot.
The next scheduled Green Dot training for employees will be in-person on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 10 AM-Noon in Stephenson Hall, room 226.
For questions, concerns, or more information visit the Title IX webpage, email Joslyn Glover, or Beth Taylor, or call 859-985-3606.
Safe Zone Training
Berea College is one of hundreds of colleges and universities that provide training to promote inclusive spaces for LGBTQ students. More specifically, this Safe Zone Training Program provides participants with an opportunity to gain knowledge and awareness about gender and sexual identity development. Participants will be engaged in experiential activities that promote a space for dialogue and questions related to gender and sexual identity. Upon completion of the training, participants will leave with educational materials and an optional window cling or sticker to place in your office/workspace. Should you choose to take the Safe Zone sticker you will be communicating that your office is a safe, friendly, respectful, and non-judgmental space for our LGBTQ students. Each training is limited to 25 people per session.
For more information about this training opportunity, please contact Dr. Amanda Wyrick, Berea’s Safe Zone trainer at Amanda_wyrick@berea.edu.
Title IX Training
Covers Berea College’s policies and procedures on Sexual Misconduct, how to identify and prevent sexual violence, How to report and incident, and the impact of trauma on victims. All new employees are required to attend one of these sessions. For more information about upcoming sessions, please contact Joslyn Glover via email or phone. These trainings typically cover important information about Berea College’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures and Nondiscrimination Policy, how to prevent and identify sexual violence, appropriate methods for responding to reports of sexual misconduct, and how and to whom such misconduct must be reported.
Employee trainings for the Fall 2021 term will be held via Zoom on:
- October 28, 2021 from 11 AM-Noon
- November 9, 2021 from 2-3 PM
- December 15, 2021 from 11 AM-Noon
Please contact Beth Taylor for Zoom links to join these meetings.
In-person trainings will take place on:
- October 26, 2021 from 11 AM-Noon in Stephenson Hall, Room 226
- November 17, 2021 from 4-5 PM in Stephenson Hall, room 226
For questions, concerns, or more information email Joslyn Glover, or Beth Taylor, or call 859-985-3606.
The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI)
Participation in the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). To take the IDI as an individual, area, or office, please contact Dr. Dwayne Mack (mackd@berea.edu), or Dr. Scott Steele (scott_steele@berea.edu).
LinkedIn Learning
Labor Program How-To Training Videos
Information about the Staff Development Fund
Information about Tuition Reimbursement
The Gender Talk Luncheon Series
2021-22 Gender Talk Calendar
Wednesday, September 22, 2021: Beverly Guy-Sheftall of Spelman College
Wednesday, October 20, 2021: Shay Akil-McLean of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, co-sponsored by the Yahng Center
Wednesday, November 10, 2021: Joseph Pierce of Stony Brook University
Wednesday, February 23, 2022: Katy Pyle of Ballez, co-sponsored by the Dance Program
Wednesday, March 30, 2022: Ashon Crawley of the University of Virginia, co-sponsored by the Religion Department and the African & African American Studies Department
Wednesday, April 13, 2022: Jina Kim of Smith College, co-sponsored by the Office of Disability & Accessibility Services
All events will take place in the bell hooks center in Draper, 106 from 11:45 AM-1:00 PM. Lunch is provided.
Please contact Kat Moses (mosesk2@berea.edu) with questions.
The Civil Rights Seminar & Tour
Loyal Jones Appalachian Center Events
The Appalachian Seminar & Tour
Participation in Dean’s Reading Groups
With support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to announce the continuation of Dean’s Reading Groups for the 2021-2022 academic year. Both staff and faculty are invited to participate. Books are below.
| Reading Groups | Date, Location, and Discussion Leaders |
|---|---|
| Academia Next: The Futures of Higher Education by Bryan Alexander The outlook for the future of colleges and universities is uncertain. Financial stresses, changing student populations, and rapidly developing technologies all pose significant challenges to the nation's colleges and universities. In Academia Next, futurist and higher education expert Bryan Alexander addresses these evolving trends to better understand higher education's next generation. | Sept. 27 & Oct. 4, 2021; 3:00-4:00pm Knapp Hall Library Lead by Nicholas Hartlep & Matt Saderholm |
| Shelter from the Machine by Jason Strange Jason shares: “Shelter From the Machine speaks directly to the backgrounds of many of our students, as well as the "blue vs red" political and cultural divisions that are currently roiling the United States. I'd like folks to know that it's not just a book about ‘back to the landers’ – if it was, I'd be way less inclined to propose it as something for faculty to read!” | Oct. 29 and Nov 12, 2021; 3:00-4:00pm Faber Library in the Loyal Jones Appalachian Center Lead by Chris Green & Jason Strange |
| Data Feminism (Strong Ideas) by Catherine D'Ignazio and Lauren F. Klein Today, data science is a form of power. It has been used to expose injustice, improve health outcomes, and topple governments. But it has also been used to discriminate, police, and surveil. This potential for good, on the one hand, and harm, on the other, makes it essential to ask: Data science by whom? Data science for whom? Data science with whose interests in mind? The narratives around big data and data science are overwhelmingly white, male, and techno-heroic. In Data Feminism, Catherine D'Ignazio and Lauren Klein present a new way of thinking about data science and data ethics—one that is informed by intersectional feminist thought. | Early spring 2022, dates and location will be announced later Lead by Chris Miller & Jan Pearce |
| Caste: The Origin of Our Discontents In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings. | Mid spring 2022, dates and location will be announced later Lead by Nashwa Cahill & Dwayne Mack |
For more information please email Sarah Broomfield at broomfields@berea.edu or call her at 859-985-3487. If you have suggestions for future groups, please contact Dean Matthew Saderholm at saderholmm@berea.edu.
Participation in Community Reading Groups
For more information on Community Reads, please contact Sarah Broomfield via email or by calling 859-985-3487.
Lunch & Learn Workshops (Contact Jill Gurtatowski for more information).
Other On-Campus Events/Groups:
Run/Walk with the Presidential Trio
Graduation & Commencement (tickets required)
General Faculty Assembly Meetings
The Gender Talk Luncheon Series
Center for International Education Events
The Celebration of Traditional Music
Carter G. Woodson Center for Interracial Education Programs and Events
Programming at the Willis D. Weatherford Campus Christian Center
Events at the bell hooks Institute
Loyal Jones Appalachian Center Events
NEW: Berea College Calendar
Want information about lectures, events, Convocations, and activities across campus? If so, please visit the Berea College calendar, available here: https://calendar.berea.edu.
Let Sam Cole know about any events that should be added to this list!